How To Become A Radiologist

How To Become A Radiologist

Anyone who wants to know how to become a radiologist but does not know what it takes to become one can follow the following steps to get certified. This is a career in medicine and just like all other careers in the medical field, one will need to prepare very well from an early age. Most medical careers require the student to make that choice from an early age so that they can build a strong foundation for it. A radiologist is a kind of doctor that performs and interprets diagnostic tests for the patient. These tests are x-ray tests, CT scan, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and ultra sound among many others.

The first steps to becoming a radiologist should be while in high school. One should pay attention to classes of chemistry, biology and physics so that they can begin early to form a strong foundation. If you can find an opportunity to volunteer your time to a radiological center do that so that you can learn some skill in advance on what happens and what a radiologist does. The next step is going to medical school. You volunteering at the center can help you a great deal in getting a spot in medical school because it can be really competitive when it comes to getting a chance to go to medical school. Once you get to medical school, select a program such as a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology. You will be required to attend all classes and excel in your exams to graduate with the Bachelor’s degree. At the same time, you can continue volunteering at the radiological center to continue earning the valuable experience and exposure that you will give you an advantage over other students when you start looking for jobs. remember that you will need to have a GPA score of at least 3.0 to join medical school and you will also need to have sat for an MCAT test and score between 30 and 36. Keep in mind that more often than not you will be competing against students with GPA scores much higher than 3.0 so you should set your bar as high as possible.

After graduating with your Bachelor’s degree in biology or chemistry, you will need to apply for a residency program which takes you about five years to complete the residency program. This is considered as the most grueling part of your journey in becoming a radiologist. During your residency you will learn how to diagnose certain problems such as broken bones, torn ligaments, internal bleeding, gallstones, and kidney stones and so on. The kind of experience that you will gain during your residency will serve you a great deal in teaching you’re the practical skills you will require to have as a radiologist.

After completing this residency program and graduating from medical school, you will have earned the M.D tag attached to your name. You will however need to take additional board exams and also apply for a fellowship program in radiology which takes about one or two years to complete. After passing all these exams and graduating, you will have earned the right to be called a radiologist and begin looking for a job as one in a hospital. This is where your tests scores and practical experience will work in your favor. This is how to become a radiologist.